Know the Warning Signs of Distracted Driving
“Nearly 400,000 people are injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving each year.”
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents. By identifying the warning signs that may indicate another driver on the road is distracted, you can potentially avoid a car accident.
According to recent data that was collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 400,000 people are injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving each year. Distracted driving is a serious problem and can lead to distracted driving accidents, leaving those involved with severe and potentially life-threatening injuries.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Driving while doing another activity that diverts some of your attention away from driving is called distracted driving. When a driver is distracted for any reason, it can increase their chances of causing distracted driving accidents.
What Are the Different Types of Distracted Driving?
There are many different causes of distracted driving. These causes can generally be divided into three main categories. The different categories of distracted driving include:
Visual Distraction
Any distraction that causes a driver to take their eyes off of the road is referred to as a visual distraction. Some examples of visual distraction include looking in the mirror to apply makeup, checking your phone or GPS device, or looking over at another passenger in your vehicle. The bottom line is that if your eyes are not focused on the task of driving, you are visually distracted.
Manual Distraction
Another type of distracted driving is a manual distraction. A manual distraction involves the driver physically removing their hands from the steering wheel in order to perform a different task. In many cases, manual distraction occurs along with cognitive distractions. Examples of manual distractions include taking your hands off the steering wheel to eat, text, change radio stations, or other dashboard controls.
Cognitive Distraction
Cognitive distraction is the third type of distraction that may occur in instances of distracted driving. It is considered a cognitive distraction when the driver diverts their attention to any other task aside from driving. Examples of cognitive distractions include talking on the phone, speaking to other passengers in the vehicle, and daydreaming.
What Are the Dangers of Distracted Driving?
“There were over 3,000 distracted driving deaths in the United States in 2019 as a result of distracted driving.”
What Are the Warning Signs of Distracted Driving?
While you are on the road, there are some warning signs of distracted driving that you should watch out for. Being an attentive driver also means being aware of other vehicles around you.
If you know how to spot the warning signs of a distracted driver, you may be able to take action to help keep yourself and your passengers safe. The warning signs of distracted driving can include any of the following factors.
Ignoring Traffic Signals and Running Red Lights
If you notice that a driver appears to be ignoring traffic signals and even goes as far as running red lights, that is a major sign that the other driver is distracted in some way.
Failure to Use Turn Signals
Another sign of distracted driving is the failure to use turn signals when appropriate. If you notice that another driver is not properly using turn signals, it could indicate distracted driving, so you should be cautious while driving near them.
Failure to maintain a consistent speed
If you are driving and you notice that another vehicle does not seem to be maintaining a consistent or appropriate speed, that could mean that the driver is distracted. Of course, there are times when it is not always appropriate to remain driving at a consistent speed—such as driving through a town with many stoplights—so use your best judgment here.
Frequently and suddenly hitting the brakes
When a driver frequently and suddenly hits their brakes, this may indicate that their full attention is not on the road, and they are a distracted driver. Driving this way can result in rear-end car accidents, so it is important to drive cautiously if you notice another vehicle hitting its breaks suddenly and frequently.
Looking down or holding a phone
If you notice that you are sharing the road with another driver who appears to be looking down frequently or holding up their phone, be cautious because this is one of the more obvious signs that the other driver is distracted.
The Arizona Car Accident Injury Attorneys of Goodnow McKay
The attorneys of Goodnow McKay have successfully handled distracted driving car accident cases for years. At our firm, we fight zealously to achieve successful outcomes for our clients who have been injured in distracted driving accidents.
Our attorneys are ready to help you fight for the compensation that you deserve. Give us a call today to set up a free consultation to meet with one of our attorneys. We are ready to help you move forward with your distracted driving accident case and to assist you with getting justice with a fair settlement.
